Wat Ketakaram, called Wat Ket for short, is on Charoenrat Road, Tambon Wat Ket, Mueang District, Chiang Mai. The temples log had recorded that it was built in the time of Phrachao Sam Fang Kaen (1402-1442). Between 1727-1728 Chao Ong Nok and Thep Singha had a rivalry for power. Chao Ong Nok used the temple as a gathering point for his troops and won the fight and gained control of Chiang Mai.
Later on, when Wat Ket area became an economic center of the city during the boat trade days, merchants from different places moved in to settle down here. Thus the temple became a center of Buddhist belief especially among the Chinese who have patronized the temple. As the people acquired more income they gave part of it to the temple to improve it as a wat to accumulate their merit according to their belief. One evidence is shown through the donators list of that period in which people used the Rupee currency called Ngoen Thaep (one rupee was equivalent to 80 satang). Examples of donations were such as Chuen the Chinese and Mae Kham Peng 3,000 rupees, Kham the Chinese and Mae La 200 rupees, and Daeng the Chinese and Nang Chanpeng 50 rupees. Besides donations in money some Chinese who had crafters skills helped in the repairs of the temple; for example, Ou the Chinese who was skilled in gold lacquer assisted in the lacquer work on the ordination hall doors and inside the vihara of the temple besides his donation of 500 rupees.
The architectural structures and constructions seen in the temple today were all renovated during the Rattanakosin era. Its beauty is shown in the chedi and vihara. The round chedi is placed on a raised platform decorated with golden repousse work. The square throne part of the chedi is decorated with colored glass supporting the tapering finial that has an umbrella tip as a decoration. The vihara is built according to a traditional style with a unique style roof called vihan sod that is rarely found today. the gable is carved and decorated in golden floral designs.
According to the Lanna belief, the temple is dedicated to worshipers who were born in year of the hound the same as the Kyaikhtiyo or Inkhwaen pagoda in Myanmar. Therefore, people who are born on that year who could not afford to go to Myanmar can come to worship the Buddhas relics at Wat Ket instead. The reason for this was because the name Wat Ket has a similar tone to the Phra Ket Kaew Chula Mani or the highest level of heaven believed to be the chedi or pagoda of those born in the year of the hound. Since it is impossible for people to reach the one in heaven, the two chedis; Kyaikhtiyo and Wat Ket are accepted as a substitute.
References
Chiang Mai Teachers College. Arts and Cultural Centre. (1993). Wat samkhan khong nakhon Chiang Mai lem 3 (significant temples of Chiang Mai vol.3). (in Thai).
Chiang Mai: So. Sapkarnphim.
Sanguan Chotsukrat. (1973). Tamnan phuen mueang Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai folk legends). (in Thai). Pranakhon:
Historical Publication Committee, Office of the Prime Minister.
Chiang Mai University Library
Chiang Mai
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Usanee Thongchai, Advisor and project expert
1969
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